eneumeier

More cyberspace-induced stuff. Let the world know I was not offended. Part of the subject line on my message was cut off. I'll go back and edit it to read what I originally typed. IMHO Chris has provided lots of good info and I thank him. On the WW video sound bit, I'm thinking my snowboarder analogy might have legs. Liz N.

Hi Chris, Thanks for taking the time to explain the differences. Since I was only in a WW boat once, for about 10 minutes on Chebacco, I am pretty clueless about that world. :-)) I have been convinced that I should learn to roll in one, however, so I'll be seeing you on 2/29. :-)) Like Ken, I find it interesting how the different sports have evolved differently. Now that I am more clear on what those differences are, I want to ask the 3 year old's annoying question: Why? Are the WW/surfers simply more resistant to authority and test taking? (Kind of like snowboarders?) Is there something about sea kayaking that makes having a defined progression, with assessments/tests at each level, more necessary or desireable than a similar program would be for WW/surfing? I understand that in WW the river is rated, not the paddler. In sea kayaking the ocean conditions are constantly changing. That means that the paddler's skills must be up to what the weather and tides bring. Also, getting off the water is not always a quick option. If ACA has a rating/certification system for WW paddling but people rarely go through the process, then I assume they can't require people to be certified to run sanctioned events. So, why bother at all? I have heard from several sources that the sea kayaking certifications are really more of an east coast phenomenon. Perhaps our NW commander could clarify that. Liz N.

Thanks Sean, that is helpful information. A couple of follow up questions, if you or anyone else knows: 1) Were the participants screened for their skill level before being permitted to participate? If so, how? 2) Were the "spotters" screened for their skill level before being permitted to spot or were they required to hold any "certifications", ACA or other? Liz N.

I hope you made it to the Chinatown Pool session. You earned a good meal! Two thoughts after reading your description: 1) Perhaps all kayakers should wear pink helmuts, instead of putting flags on poles on their back deck. :-)) 2) In light of the discussion at yesterday's membership meeting about risk management, I'd like to hear more about how the risks were managed at this event, which obviously had people in some challenging water. Liz N.

I was in Southern Spain in December and went to Gilbrater. Looking across the Straits at Morocco I talked with some locals about sea kayaking there. They went on, and on, and on, about the weather, currents, hazards, etc. A pretty amazing place. In Michelen guide terms: "worth a journey." Liz N.

Just because a bill got filed does not mean it is going anywhere. When I was distributing the NSPN safety brochures last spring I had a long chat with the Gloucester Harbormaster and the kayak (lack of) visibility issue. He mentioned the flag on the stern notion. I explained why it would not work, for all the reasons people have mentioned. He understood. Bruce Tarr (Republican - those are the ones that don't like government regulation, right?) is my State Senator. I'll have a chat with him about this. When something horrible happens, as in Harwich, or someone gets scared, Ipswich, some people immediately think "there ought to be a law." So a rep gets contacted and, being responsive to constituents, they introduce a bill. Most never become law. Liz N.

> However, for a long time, the members were given an opportunity >(through the website) to volunteer or nominate others to be >considered for vacancies on the Board. Unless I missed >something, and it wouldn't be the first time, that process >has not continued, and at a very minimum, I think it should. Hi Jill, This process has been continued. The "call for nominations" has been posted every fall and people are encourgaged to self-nominate or nominate someone else. One of the problems with using the message board for all communications is that such a post can quickly get "buried" by other messages. Hopefully, creating a separate conference on the message board for "club business" will help. There seems to be a lot of support for that approach. We'll see what people think at the membership meeting on Saturday. Liz N.

Lisa, In addition to spending more time with your husband and non-paddling friends, you may find that you have more time to work on your own kayaking skills! I want to say that you were the right person at the right time for NSPN. By staying behind the scenes the way you did, most members and other people reading this board had no way of knowing the heavy lifting that occurred in 2003. Each time I heard you speak about the creation of the new website, the steps you were taking, and the work of the website committee, I got a very tight knot in my stomach. Each time I thought "I'm so glad this did not happen on my watch." People have often referred to this website as our club's home. Few knew how close it came to burning to the ground. Few knew how amazing it was to get this new site up so quickly, ready for improvements in 2004, at a cost the club could afford. Yeah, yeah, yeah: more delegation and communication. That would have been good too. I could never have done what you pulled off. Thanks! Liz N.

This is the best thread we have had on this board in a long time. Thanks Dee, for starting it. Are you going to total the results? Gulfstream 2000 (Kevlar): CD installed the hatches correctly, a good thing given the extra cost of kevlar. I did have a small (as in tablespoons) leak in my back hatch. It drove me NUTS. I wanted it DRY. Mike Crouse's problems lead me to test my skeg box, cables, etc. ad nauseum. In the midst of the summer drought I wasted huge quantities of water in my driveway. I finally found the problem: one of the deck fittings lacked an O ring. Drip, drip, drip. NO MORE. My day hatch leaked a bit also, after 2 years or so. One of the screws holding the rim had loosened. Final and more significant issue for CD boats (and Mike Crouse's bigger complaint): the seal at the bottom of the bulkhead between the cockpit and day hatch failed, letting water into the day hatch. I had to clean it out and reseal it, which was harder than it sounds. Can't talk about Viviane, yet. Liz N.

I've used my contact tow for this (getting out at a high dock) purpose and it has always worked fine. Since I keep it daisy-chained and under the deck bungy, I think there is less likelihood of it snagging, as contrasted with a long painter running loose from the bow all the way to a deck line near me. Just my opinion. Others will undoubtedly have other viewpoints. Liz N.

>Just curious, how were you folks fixing skegs? I was adding a rudder. If my skeg ever needs fixing, I won't have to worry about it. :-)) Liz N.

I've seen a number of people rig a painter on their bow, clipped somewhere near the cockpit. While a painter is a handy thing to have, I still need to be convinced that this is a good idea, since it seems like another line to get snagged. Jill had a line rigged in case she needed to be towed, one that she could reach to release herself from the tow. I like that idea. Perhaps someone can show me how to do that. See you soon. Liz N.

Thanks Guy. I let it through. But, for some reason I cannot get this pdf. (Same problem when I click on the link Sean gave.) When it starts I get a message: "Could not find the Color Space named Cs6." Then: "This file contains information not used by the viewer. Suppress further errors." Whether I click yes or no, I get all black pages. Any suggestions from our techies? I am sure the problem is on my end so feel free to write me privately rather than cluttering the message board with my computer woes. Liz N.

>I haven’t looked behind the Gloucester High School to check >the ice, but I would suggest that next weeks paddle outing >on that first piece of the Blackburn, go up to Lane's and >back. The plan was to go to the end of the river, farther depending on conditions and how people felt. Mother nature has decided that sledges are needed for that route. The Annisquam is solid its entire length, and thickening. It looks like the on-water training plans will be delayed a bit. Getting access to sheltered water still in liquid form questionable. Anyone know of a location? On to the pool ...., and spinning class...., and nordic track. And slopes for some downhill. Liz N.

For those of you new to kayaking who read this, don't think pool sessions are just for those working on cool stuff like hand rolls. Never done a wet exit or paddle float self rescue? Nervous about it? A pool session is the perfect place. Warm water and lots of helpers. Want to learn a draw stroke or low brace? Ditto. Liz N.

When I was going through exactly the same search, several people referred me to this site: http://www.soundrowers.org/ Check out the chart that follows their description of classes. The way they categorize the different boats is very helpful. I bought a KajakSport Viviane: not the fastest in its class (Glider, Epic Endurance, etc.) but it is supposed to be better in conditions, and it is much nicer on the eyes. (I'm such a slave to fashion.) BTW, my Viviane came with a skeg and I will adding a rudder at Brian's workshop on Saturday. I thought it would be a simple way to deal with the skeg v. rudder issue: get both. :-)) Liz N.

>Where were you headed for the training, >btw? That will depend, in part, on where the ice flows give us access to still liquid water. It is truely amazing how quickly the shore ice has built up this week. Ducks and swans are seriously running out of any place to float. Liz N.

It is a marathon. Last year I did it at a "I want to finish and live to tell of it" pace. This year I intend to cut 30 minutes off my time. So, I am working on: 1) increasing my aerobic capacity - spinning, swimming 2) increasing my strength - weights 3) increasing my flexibility - yoga 4) improving my technique - The "catch" is the weakest part of my stroke. I can work on that in pools sessions without running people over. 5) lightening my load, like a good American should. :-)) I had some links to good sites for shoulder exercises and stretching for kayakers but somehow lost them. Does anyone have them? Keith: you had some good stuff on stretching. Thanks for any advice. Liz N.

Alex Landrum and I are going to try to get out on Sunday, Jan. 18. If you This will be an easy paddle to get us started. I know it conflicts with Brian Nystrom's fabulous outfitting workshop and that it falls in the middle of MLK, Jr. weekend, when a lot of people will be skiing. If you can't make this one - there will be more. Bad weather cancels. Details to those on the list from the prior posting. Those people are: Leslie Beale Ken Cooper Leon Granowitz Helen Greitzer Bill Gwynn Dee Hall Alex Landrum Liz Neumeier Sean Noonan Suzanne Pritchett Paula Riegel Anne Reynolds Lisa Santullo Linda Shelburne If you want to be added, post here or send me an email: eneumeier@earthlink.net. Liz N.

> The legislative effort would be far more effective if the >situation was addressed right from the start. Retailers of >kayaks are the first line of defense. Promotion of kayak >safety courses should be a mandatory part of any new kayak >sale. A retailer could provide a list of approved >organizations teaching a "quick start" or similar kayak >safety programs. The retailer could also stress the >importance of taking a safety course,or could possibly >sponsor a "kayak safety day" similar to,or in conjunction >with the "demo days" held by many stores. > Perhaps NSPN could participate in this type of activity. >Who better to teach the importance of kayak safety? A couple of years ago NSPN was invited to do a safety demo at the Gloucester Seafood Festival. It conflicted with the seals trip, a surf class and something else so no one was available to do it. I have regretted missing that opportunity. Dan's suggestion sounds like a good winter project: form a committee to develop a short demo presentation, shop it around to outfitters to see who wants us to do it, line up folks for the schedule. Anyone who has paddled with NSPN for a year knows enough about the basics. Yet another way for people to give something back to the club and to help more newbies get started right. > New kayakers are the highest risk category and the place >to begin promoting safety is long before they get on the >water. Absolutely! Liz N.

Great link! I actually did know about the 5% rule but was too lazy to write all that out. In any event I doubt, for the reasons sing gave, that NSPN will want to spend any of its money that way. Jill makes some good points. Reaching people who do not want to listen is pretty tough. Liz N.

In the aftermath of the loss of two young women out of Harwichport last October legislation is being proposed in MA to require PFDs to be worn at all times while kayaking. Here is the link for more info: http://www.vsv.cape.com/~harharb/ciha/kayakpressrelease.html I never paddle without wearing my PFD and they are mandatory on all NSPN trips. After following the links and reading comments of others about this proposed bill - follow the links - I am still not sure how I feel about it. When this accident happened, PFDs were mandatory. They were violating MA law by not wearing them. Some of the commentators suggest that requiring a safety manual to be provided with each kayak sold will do more for safety than a rule with the attendent enforcement problems. If that approach is taken it seems to me that outfitters renting kayaks would need to provide the info also. NSPN cannot "lobby" but can educate legislators about issues. What do people think about this one? Liz N.

Happy New Year Bob, At the Christmas party there was talk of combining a ski trip to Whistler/Blackcomb with a paddling trip with you. I'm not sure when this can happen. Liz N.

Count me in. I will want to add a fiberglass knee tube and access hatch to mz new Viviane. Spain was fabulous. Skiing in Davos is good, but more snow is needed, badlz. That z was due this european kezboard, Not mz tzping abilitz. Liz N.

My intent, heading down to the cove, (BTW, Chotas make GREAT snow boots) was to climb up on the sea wall. I changed my mind really quickly when I got down there. Watching from a distance was good. Liz N.